Politics and religion have collided at a Burlington church after pamphlets encouraging voters to remove an Iowa Supreme Court justice were made available at a Sunday service. A woman who attended the City Church service on Sept. 30 told a pastor she believed it was illegal for a church to display material that promotes specific political action.

That pastor told her it wasn’t illegal, and in an Oct. 7 sermon another pastor, the Rev. Steve Youngblood, castigated her for raising objections about the pamphlets that back the removal of Justice David Wiggins. “Don’t call yourself a Christian and do that,” Youngblood said in the sermon. “We need to draw a line in the sand. We need to begin to say that at City Church this is how we’re going to be.”

Under a 1954 federal law, it is illegal for tax-exempt organizations, including churches, to promote political candidates or ballot issues. Those who violate the law can lose their tax-exempt status, which allows tax deductions on money given to a church and allows a church to avoid paying property taxes.

*snip*

“The IRS is prohibited by law from commenting on any specific taxpayer or entity,” spokesman Christopher Miller said. In his Oct. 7 sermon, the audio of which was posted online, Youngblood speaks of the woman who complained, saying he’d “like to slap her” and that her husband should rise up and “correct her." What makes me madder is that this person’s husband won’t correct them,” he said. “I don’t like rebellious women. I don’t like rebellious men, either. They’re even worse.”

- Hmmm. Have you ever noticed how these so-called lovers of peace, and turn-the-other-cheekers seem to default to Old Testament practices of beating those who contradict them when ''The Jesus Material'' ain't working???? I have........

7. Except then she'd be operating at his lower level..... n/t

12. Some people only understand lower level demonstrations.

We should be willing to accommodate them, as it's worse to allow them to remain ignorant.
Mr. Miller: Who the Hell do you think you are, you pompous self-righteous gasbag? Rent a room, buy some chairs, and suddenly, you're a spokesman for God? What is the sin that cannot be forgiven? Isn't it pretending you're speaking for God? Why don't you contemplate that for awhile?

8. More information the 'the church',,,,,

Just over three months ago, three local pastors founded a new church right in the middle of the historic Hotel Burlington, which houses the Burlington Apartments. To make the church feel all inconclusive, they called it City Church-Burlington - a church open to all denominations.

The Revs. Ken Petersen, David Selmon and Steve Youngblood will be the first to tell you starting a new church isn't easy. They started from ground zero, without a building to call their own or a penny to buy a seat to sit in.

But now, with a thriving congregation that praises Jesus every Sunday morning in the Hotel Burlington ballroom, there's no place they would rather be.

13. The word that jumped out at me was

"rebellious".

What they are saying here is, "Do as I say because I have hereby proclaimed that I speak for god. Once I have proclaimed that I speak for god that makes it true and you would be blaspheming to question me."

These people who want to tell you how to think and banish you to hell for not agreeing with them make my blood boil!

19. Oh, it still might

Revoking tax-exempt status also revokes the ability of people tithing to the church to deduct the donations from their own income when it's tax time. I'm betting more than a few people in that congregation would look for a new church if they had to all of a sudden start paying taxes on their tithes.

has become the focal point of the battle in this election. Conservatives have targeted him for removal. This is part of the larger ROVE/ Koch Bros. plan to overturn the courts state by state using wedge issues to unseat "liberal" judges.

Three years ago Wiggins and his six colleagues ruled that the state's law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, which made Iowa the third state to recognize gay marriage, and the first state not on the coasts. The decision triggered an outcry by conservatives who, a year later, mounted an aggressive — and successful — campaign to defeat three of the justices whose terms were up for ballot review.

Now the future of Wiggins, whose term is up for review this year, is sparking an even bigger battle as liberal groups and lawyers shocked by the outcome in 2010 fight back on his behalf. The race is being watched not only as a barometer of the public's changing attitude toward gay marriage but also as a message for judges who might take up similar cases in the future.

Joe Biden as as "real" a communicator as the USA has ever had the honor of having in our midst as a public servant. It was impossible not to notice the depth of his conviction during the debate in all important issues.

But the moment I recall most vividly was his emotional admission he accepted his faith's strict anti-abortion beliefs but would absolutely not seek to impose his will on others! Joe Biden does not have one iota of a "holier than thou" restrictive nature.

I personally praise the Lord because President Obama and Veep Joe Biden have no desire to play God in the White House!

32. The Federal Law has NO affect on Property Taxes, just income taxes

To be an tax exempt Federal non-profit corporation, you must meet certain requirements including NOT endorsing anyone in any election. If you follow that rule, you are tax exempt and donation to your organization can be deducted from people's income tax.

On the other hand, if your organization is small (for example the various African American Baptist Churches) and the people donating you are taking the Standard Deductions (for example, their mortgages interest, employment expenses, union membership and Donations are all below the Standard Deduction) then the federal rule has no affect on you. The only question is the State Deduction and most States do NOT include the requirement of NO political endorsement in their exemption requirements. Thus this tax exemption applies only to organization whose members donate large amounts of money to them.

Standard Deduction is $5,950. At a 3.0% rate, a $100,000 morgage is only $3000. Many African Americans rent or have mortages way less then $100,000 (and if married the deduction is $11,900). It is HARD for someone making less then $50,000 a year to exceed the Standard Deduction and that is over 1/2 of the population. Thus the Federal Rule has no affect on over1/2 of the population. The other half are affected, but are noted for giving less not only to churches but to any charities.

34. I beg to differ.

State sales and property tax payment requirements are not imposed upon those non-profit entities that have a federal tax exemption. A federal tax exemption may be granted to those entities whose activities serve a public good or whose services/mission are religious, charitable and/or educational. If an entity loses their federal tax-exemption granted by the IRS, then they must pay state sales and property taxes. And all the other taxes too.

38. There is NO Federal property or Sales tax

Thus any exemption granted from the Federal Government is based exemptions from the Taxes the FEDERAL Government imposes and those taxes do NOT include Sales or Property taxes (Outside of DC itself). Thus what is exempt for Sales tax and Property taxes purposes is up to each local and State Government.

You could technically have a non-profit that is exempt under Federal Income Tax law, but be liable for Property taxes and sales taxes. You can also have the opposite, a non-profit exempt from local and state Property and Sales taxes, but be held to be NOT tax exempt for Federal Income Taxes purposes.

Some examples: A non-profit sells a car to non-profit person or organization, the income is NOT taxable income for Federal Income Taxes purposes BUT the non-profit must collect and forward to the state the Sales tax due on the Sale of the car.

Side note: When most people, who are NOT dealers in automobiles, sell they car to a third person, if sold for less then the car was purchased at, no income occurred for Income Tax purposes, but the sale did generate a sales tax event (i.e. the sales tax must be paid). On the other hand, if the car was sold for more then the non-profit paid for it, the difference is income for income tax purposes. Under Federal Law, no income tax is owned on such a transaction for the non-profit, even through the States will still get its sales tax.

Property taxes tend to be exempt under State Law, if the property is NOT used for any profit making activities. If the property is used on profit making activity, properly taxes must be paid, even if no income is actually earned. On the other hand, if the profit making activities do NOT bring the non-profit any income, no income tax is due.

Just pointing out the exemptions are different depending on what is being taxed. Furthermore, Federal Income Tax only applies to income from profit making activities that is actually earned. Donations to non-profits are deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes if given to organization that are non-profit, even if they engage in profit making activities and own property that earns them income.

One other point I was making is a lot of low income people do NOT donate enough to exceed the Standard deductions, thus the income tax deduction is unimportant to them (even if who they are donating to is NOT a non-profit as determined by the IRS, they total donations are below what the Standard Deduction is, thus it is unimportant if the donation was made or not). This happens a lot in regards to people who earn less then Median Income (roughtly $50,000 a year). This is the same population that Romeny attacked with his comment as to the 47% of the population who pay no income tax. The state exempt status of who they are donating to is thus unimportant to them or the IRS (i.e. if the donation is invalid, it is still exempt for it is under the Standard Deduction for the person who made the donation).

39. Yes, but there are state property and sales taxes. And that's all that I've been talking about.

Period.

You are are referring to the taxes people pay to the federal government based upon earned income, capital gains, etc. That is not what I'm talking about at all. Nor have I referred to any type of income taxation in the slightest.

I'm talking about the taxes that any kind of commercial business pays. Which is the kind of taxes a church would be required to pay at the state and possibly local level -- if it didn't have a federal tax exemption.

41. Non-profits have to pay the same fees as for profit corporations

The Federal INCOME tax exemption has no affect on those fees in regards to ANYONE, a for profit company, an non-profit or even a private individual. Any exemptions that exist in regards to those fees are STATE or LOCAL in nature. This includes State and Local Sales and Property taxes, The federal exemptions have NO affect on those taxes. If a State wants to tax the property a church or other non-profit is on, it can. The Federal exemption do NOT overcome State law in regards to State Taxes. Now, State Law may overcome Local tax laws and exemptions, but this reinforces the tendency for both State and Local Taxes to follow the same rules as to exemptions.

My point is simple, any exemptions from Property or Sales taxes are STATE OR LOCAL in nature, the Federal Exemptions have NO AFFECT ON SUCH TAXES. If a non-profit sets up a Car Store to sell cars for its members at no profit, States Sales taxes have to be paid. The property the car store is on, will be subject to Local Property taxes even if the Non-profit makes no money on the sales.

A couple of non-profits (Some church related, others not) set up such car sales units during the few years following the adoption of TANF (Transitional Aid to Needy Families) when it was discovered one of the chief reasons people on welfare could NOT find work, was they did NOT have a Car to get to and from the Suburbs where most jobs are today. The Cars sold were subject to State Sales Tax, the property used for the sales was subject to local property taxes, even as the non-profit retained its Federal Income Tax Exemption.

The non-profits also had to follow local business law, including various business fees for operating a business, collect Socal Secuirty from its employees (And pay its share of the Socal Security Taxes and Unemployment taxes) related to the employment of such employees. Pay the fees related to having someone who is registered with the State as a person to do Auto Inspections (or arrange for that to be done by such a person outside of the Car Shop). Non-profits also have to pay any professional fees of any employees required by the State just like a for profit corporation or a private individual.

The exemption for churchs (and other non-profit property) is based on State Law. Most States only exemptions non-profit making property. I know of a volunteer fire department that pays taxes on land its own, and rents out as a park and ride. Yes, the Fire Department ends up paying property taxes to the munciality it provides fire protection for, instead of the normal situation where the local munciapalty pays the Volunteer Fire Department to provide the fire protection. The reason is simple, the property in question, the park and ride parking lot makes money and is thus NOT exempt under State or Local property law. The fact that the Volunteer Fire Department is an exempt non-profit under Federal Income Tax Law has NO affect on the fact it has to pay property taxes on the Park and Ride lot (Which is uses to host its carnival in the Summer to raise money).

My point is simple, the Federal Exemption has no affect on Sales or Property Taxes for those are set by State or Local law and whatever are the State and Local Exemptions to those State and Local Sales and property taxes.

44. I've created and run nonprofits.....

...for most of my 35 year career in housing and affordable homeownership programs, homeownership associations, housing cooperatives, food buying coops and clubs, and homeownership counseling as well as and HUD/FHA program housing development and coordination. I've been a consultant for the feds and hired by the feds and other agencies, with the primary mission of working with neighborhood groups and organizations who are wanting to form nonprofit businesses. So I've learned a thing or two about them.

I know IRS regulations as it pertains to nonprofits because it was my responsibility to know it since it was what I did. I'm aware of the differences as it pertained to my work, in the IRS 501 (c)'s code, etc. So I've created or worked for non-profits and/or the government agencies that oversee and regulate them almost all my career.

If an organization's activities and/or mission are for a public good, receives donations as a part of its revenue stream (and tax deductible for the donator), then generally they'll qualify as tax exempt under IRS 501 (c). Charitable, religious and educational organizations almost always qualify as long as they don't discriminate in the provision of the service or public benefit, based on race, sex, etc.

That's why the Mormons saw the light (or I should say the dark) in 1978 because they were threatened with the loss of their 501 (c) status. So they lifted their ''No negroes in heaven'' spiel by having their holy books updated.

The nonprofit housing coop I've created and run is taxable, pays property taxes and sales taxes, but still operates under nonprofit business model, and are treated differently by the IRS insofar as income and reserves are concerned. But that's because it is a mutual benefit for the members only. It's their business in a corporate structure operated under a nonprofit business model. So we never had any income tax due based upon our structure since their were no ''cash'' profits for the member-owners, they profit by their ownership of all the equity. But only if an when it is liquidated.

But now I'm semi-retired (or try to think I am anyway) and I'm trying to find other things to think about as I chart a new path. But no matter where I go or what I do, I'll always remember nonprofits.